NEW HAVEN

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published
1:00 am EDT, Sunday, June 18, 2006

NEW HAVEN - The lawyer for Danbury trash magnate James Galante's companies wants the government to "unfreeze" company assets so six employees can defend themselves against an alleged mob-connected conspiracy case.

, who is the lawyer for Galante's companies, said the government takeover "cripples" the ability of Galante's employees and companies to pay for an adequate defense against the federal racketeering indictment handed down last Friday.

In the motion filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, Pickerstein claims company bylaws say indicted employees are allowed to have attorney's fees paid for by the company.

Galante owns Automated Waste Disposal, a trash transfer station, and other companies. U.S. Marshals took control of his companies after indicting Galante, 10 of the companies and some of his employees last week.